Burial-vault



(No Model.)

H. FROEHLICH.

BURIAL VAULT. No. 372,532.. Patented Nov. 1, 1887.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR: W1, BY 2g ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFlCE;

HERMAN FROEHLICH, OF lVATER-LOO, INDIANA.

BURlAL-VAULT.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 372,532, dated November 1, 1887.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN FRoEHLIcH, of Vaterloo, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented a new and usefulImprovementin Burial-Vault ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention consists in an improvement in burial or grave vaults, and has for its object the providing of a cheap and durable vault to replace the common wooden box now in general use as a receptacle for a coffin, and to protect the body placed within from moisture and all foreign substances, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved burial-vault. Fig. 2 is a vertical crosssectional View of the same, showing the end ofa coffin in position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the burial-vault, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View illustrating more clearly the joint between the cover or top and the body of the vault.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A represents the upper and B the lower part of my improved burial-vault, the burial-vault being constructed of artificial stone, concrete, or any other suitable material which may be molded while in a plastic state. The sides and ends of the lower part, B, slant outwardly and upwardly, as shown, and the upper part, A, the sides of which are of sufficient depth to give it a substantial arch, has the outer face of its sides and ends slanting outwardly and upwardly at a greater angle than the sides of the lower part, B, for purposes hereinal'ter specified. The upper part, A, has sufficient arch to enable it to resist the pressure and weight of the earth when the grave is filled, the outward slant of the lower portions or edge of the top forming a thick strong base for the arch. The joint between the upper andlower part, where their edges meet, is constructed as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the sides of the shallow groove B in the upper edge of the lower part forming an angle of about one hundred and twentyfive degrees, and the edges of these sides turn so as to meet the outside and inside surfaces of the wall of the vault at equal angles, thus avoiding sharp angles as much as possible. The joint is formed by making the shallow groove or channel B in the edge of the lower portion, and when the lower portion with this channel is molded and formed and sufficiently hardened the cover or upper part, A, is made by placing the core and side and end pieces of the mold for the cover in position right over the sufficiently-hardened lower part, and the grooved upper edge of the lower part is used as the mold for the lower edge of the cover, the cover or upper part, A, being formed by filling the plastic material into the mold and into the grooved upper edge of the lower part, which groove is provided with a thin strip of sheet-lead to form aparling, whereby a most perfect joint is formed, the ridge or tongue thus formed on the lower edge of the upper part fitting exactly in the channel in the edge of the lower part, as shown. When closing the vault afterentombing the coifiu therein, thick oil, paint, soft putty, or its equivalent is placed in the shallow channel B, and by lowering and placing the (cover on the lower part it does not require such exact adjustment, as the cover will slide by the means of the slanting sides of the channel B, and the thick oil, paint, or its equivalent spread over the slant ing sides of the channel, to its exact place without iuju ring the joi nt, and at the same time the thick oil, paint, or its equivalent cements the edges of the cover and lower parts together and effectually prevents the entrance of any moisture or dampness. The outer faces of the sides and ends of the lower part are made slanting outwardly and upwardly, and as the sides and ends of the upper part are of less height than the lower part the outside faces of thesides and ends of the top are made to incline less abruptly than the sides of the lower part, to adapt them to receive an adjustable and removable clamping-band, E, by means of which the lower and upper parts may be handled, especially when lowering them into the grave, the outward and upward slanting of the sides affording a firm grip for the band- E, and p revcnting the said parts from slipping out of the same. This adjustable band E, which is shown more clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is formed of two short end pieces, E, of band-iron,- one at each end, and to the ends'of these end pieces are secured the ends of short chains E which pass around the round corners of the vault, (both thelower and upper parts of the Vault being formed with round corners, as shown,) and the ends of these chains which come on thes'ides ofthe vault are provided with the eyebolts F, having the screwthreaded portions F; and the adjustable side pieces of the band are formed each of two sections,G G,of band-iron, the meeting ends of the said sections overlapping and being formed with a series of apertures, through which connecting-bolts pass, which arrangement permits of said-sections being adjusted to regulate the length of the said side pieces according to the length of the particular vault to which the band is being applied. The free ends of the side pieces are bent outwardly at right angles, asshowmandformed with apcrtureSG ,tl1rough which the threaded portions of the eyebolts F slide, and nuts H are then screwed upon the ends of the said bolts, by tightening which the chains E and the entire band are firmly secured around the part of the vault which is to be handled. Handles I I are bolted to the sides of the side pieces of the band for convenience in handling the parts of the vault, and bands or ropes are passed through the handles in lowering the parts into the grave.

The top of the top part, A, is formed with the central panel,K,which provides a place for an inscription, and a marble slab, 1., may be inserted in this panel, if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and advantages of my inr proved burial-vault-, with the combination of the clamping-band,will be readily understood. It will be seen that by molding or casting the lower edge of the upper part or cover right on the upper edge of the lower part, and by having a fresh molded cover remain thereon until the material of which the vault is formed is sufficiently hardened, a most perfect-fitting joint will be formed. Such perfect-fitting joint cannot be obtained by forming the two parts separate from each other. Another good and new feature of my vault is this: By locating the joint between the upper and lower part about the middle of the height of the vault it gives sufficient height to construct the cover of the vault with a high arch, and thus, in connection with the outward and upward slanting faces of the sides and ends, the cover becomes necessarily the strongest part of the vault.

The adjustable clamping-band with its handles, in combination with the outward and upward slanting sides and ends to which it is fastened, as described above and shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings, is a eontrivance by which both parts of the vault can be easily handled and lowered into the grave, and it is especially indespensable when closing the vault after the coffin is entombed, and also useful for removing the cover from the core over which it was molded, the tightening and clamping force of the band being brought to bear around the outward and upward slanting faces of the sides of the new-formed cover,

thereby preventing any strain and breaking up the cover, even if the core were removed before the material of which it is formed became sufficiently hardened.

I am aware that grave vaults constructed of two parts have been formed of artificial stone. Such I do not desire to claim, broadly; but so far as I know no one has heretofore produced an artificial stone vault in the man ner above described.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a burial or grave vault consisting of two parts and made of plastic material, the combination, with the lower and upper parts having the inclined sides and ends and the round corners, of the adjustable-clamping band with its handles, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An adjustable clamping-band for raising or loweringvaults or coffins, comprising side plates or bands having handles and chains connecting the ends of said plates or hands, substantially as set forth.

3. An adjustable clamping-band for raising or lowering vaults or cofifins, consisting of the side plates or bands formed of two sections ad-' YVitncsscs:

W. O. BUTLER, WILLIAM D. PARR. 

